Organizers of the Burning Man arts festival are suing local officials over new rules for the annual event in the northern Nevada desert.
They say Pershing County is unfairly imposing a festival ordinance that would bring significant new costs and restrictions to the event dedicated to radical self-expression. The main restrictions are no children or nudity.
The ordinance goes into effect in October, meaning it would impact next year's event. The ordinance specifically enables sheriff's deputies to regulate activities considered "obscene, indecent, vulgar, or lewd.''
Burning Man takes place over Labor Day weekend. This year's event is expected to draw around 60,000 people who will camp out and create a temporary city in the desert.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports Burning Man organizer Black Rock City, LLC, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday.
Marian Goodell, a board member of Black Rock City, LLC told the paper, āIām confident we can get through this and people will see us out in the Black Rock Desert in 2013. Northern Nevada is a perfect home for Burning Man.ā
Pershing County officials declined to comment.
